1
as in fake
not being or expressing what one appears to be or express
an unctuous effort to appear religious to the voters
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in oily
overly or insincerely flattering
an unctuous appraisal of the musical talent shown by the boss's daughter
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Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of unctuous
The pickled mustard seeds provide little pears of flavor and an edge of acid that cuts through the unctuous dish.
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Jeremy Repanich, Robb Report, 30 Dec. 2024
Pasta sauces are unctuous, and the tiramisu made my lactose-intolerant dining companion giddy.
—Kendyl Kearly, Baltimore Sun, 25 Nov. 2024
For cooking the aromatic vegetables, but also dotted overtop, butter seeps into the breadcrumbs and crisps up the top for an unctuous, golden bite.
—Catherine Jessee, Southern Living, 23 Nov. 2024
Stir-fry noodle dishes like crystal-clear glassy jap chae ($19) and chewy udon ($19) noodles deliver more simple comfort, tossed with tender-crisp veggies in unctuous soy and oyster sauces, respectively.
—Rachel Bernhard, Journal Sentinel, 23 Sep. 2024
See All Example Sentences for unctuous
Recent Examples of Synonyms for unctuous
Adjective
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These platforms sell complete phishing kits—web hosting, SMS delivery systems, fake landing pages, encryption tools—to other cybercriminals who want to run scams at scale.—
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Frisco police are investigating a series of fake social media posts made this week after the killing of a 17-year-old student at a track meet, Police Chief David Shilson said.—
Adjective
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The formula is oil-controlling and hydrating—two musts for oily skin types—and stays put through sweat and humidity.—
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Laneige Water Bank Gentle Cleanser, $29, and Skin Rocks The Gel Cleanser, $48, both offer lightweight cleansing with hydrating benefits, while Sofie Pavitt Clean Clean Gentle Gel Foaming Cleanser, $34, is a great mild cleanser for oily skin.—
Adjective
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By that same time next year, Munn had a nipple delay procedure, lymph node dissection, a double mastectomy, and reconstructive surgery.—
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By the time Survivor’s post-merge double elimination episode was complete, only one original Vula member stood to live another day.—
Adjective
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One defense, beginning in the late eighteen-hundreds, was flypaper, sheets of which were coated on one side with an oleaginous substance that lured flies, then permanently trapped them.—
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At any moment, the noodles might dissolve, the cheese topping burn, the dish collapse into a soggy, oleaginous mess.—
Adjective
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By After Testing Over 30 Best Sellers By Siena Gagliano Unlike balms, which can make lip color slide around, a primer locks it in while keeping lips soft and comfortable.—
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For lip color, reach for the Merit Beauty Signature lipsticks.—
Adjective
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Scientists had initially feared this spread could represent another Ebola-like crisis — since that disease originated in animals, then jumped to humans, sickening and killing a large number of people.—
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The disconnect between the reality that many people are currently experiencing hunger, in part because of climate change, and this fancy dinner was sickening.—
Adjective
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Due to its mild alkaline (acid-reducing) effect and abrasive texture, baking soda can help remove superficial stains and reduce bacteria in the mouth.—
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Her framework moves beyond superficial advice, addressing the root causes of insecurity while offering practical tools for lasting change.—
Adjective
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But the discussion around Golden this season has been muted, strained and careful all the way to the end, Monday’s dramatic 65-63 comeback win against Houston to seize the title.—
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Throughout the series, the strained relationship between father and son highlights the repercussions of family communication breakdowns.—
Cite this Entry
“Unctuous.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/unctuous. Accessed 15 Apr. 2025.
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